Vinyl albums have been the source of music for decades, being at the height of popularity between the 1950s and 1980s. Vinyl is now coming back into style and is almost outselling CD’s.
The new hype behind vinyl didn’t just occur over one or two years but has been a growing trend since 2007. There is something about buying a record, old or new, and being able to lay it down on a turntable.
There is some concentration needed when laying the record down and strategy when placing the needle to begin the music. You need to be precise as to not start the first song too early.
As a hobby, you can hop right in for a pretty fair price. Turntables can cost anywhere from 30 to hundreds of dollars, depending on the brand of course. The records alone can be extremely cheap and in good condition if you’re looking in the right places.
You’d be surprised about how many great albums end up at thrift stores like Goodwill. Obviously, you’re going to need dedication and sift through hundreds of albums, but it tends to be worth it.
Flea markets are also thriving as vinyl hotspots. There might be a better chance of finding some classic like Abbey Road by The Beatles at a flea market. Just be ready to pay higher prices for more collectible albums.
The real question is “why is vinyl coming back?”
I think the biggest reason is nostalgia, but also the physical aspect. There is something special about a case of vinyl albums and being able to play them while you’re relaxing or doing chores around the house.
Also, the sound is so different from CD’s and streaming. There is a scratchy sound that sounds more real for some reason. Maybe it’s the turntable I own. There seems to be more instrumental sounds that get lost in digital music.
I just started collecting vinyl a few months ago when I scored a cheap turntable at Goodwill. I now own 20 albums, ranging from big band jazz music to Creedence Clearwater Revival and Electric Light Orchestra.
The most I’ve spent on an album is 20 dollars, but it was a brand new CCR Greatest Hits album at Target. I was able to get a steal, finding a small collection of Frank Sinatra albums for two dollars apiece. Anything is possible when it come to price.
Even though vinyl takes up more space than CD’s there is a certain interest in owning it. The physicality of it, the album art is brighter than CD’s art. Owning vinyl is also a great talking point. Not everyone has the patients, or funds, to go out hunt down their favorite band’s music on that format.
Finally, I believe that vinyl has made a comeback because of how it makes the owner care, pay attention and simply enjoy the music. Taking care of vinyl is time consuming. You have to clean it so dirt doesn’t clog the grooves.
Unlike digital forms of music, you only get to hear a few songs before flipping the album over, so you have to actually listen for the end of one side. Most importantly, you get to enjoy the music.
Vinyl isn’t portable like CD’s and Spotify, so you make the conscious decision to sit down, load a record on the turntable and enjoy the music. Vinyl is more relaxing to me, because it means I can shut off from the world and just listen to music, without a care in the world.
